It is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow clinging to lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
